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Emergency Trauma and Burn Services Associated Programs Meet Our Team Locations Resources for Families Contact Information Request an Apppointment     Email This Page Print This Page           Resources for Families Burn Safety by Lisa Ring, MSN, CPNP-AC, PC Burn injuries are the fifth leading case of accidental child injury-related death. Many of these injuries happen during the winter months when families are indoors, preparing hot meals more often. Keep your children safe this winter by learning about the most common burns, how to prevent burns and how to treat them. THE MOST COMMON BURNS Thermal burns from heat sources are the most common burns. The two most common types of thermal burns are scald burns, from hot liquid or steam, and contact burns, from touching a heat source. SCALD BURNS According to Safe Kids Worldwide, a child exposed to hot tap water at 140 degrees Fahrenheit for just three seconds will sustain a third-degree burn – an injury that typically requires skin grafts and hospitalization. Children’s Burn Clinic team sees approximately 350 burn victims a year. More than 50 percent of patients admitted have scald burns from water or foods, such as: Children spilling instant soups or other instant meals, which are often extremely hot and can be overheated Toddlers pulling cups of hot water or coffee from counters, spilling the contents on themselves School-age children preparing meals on the stove or microwave, who burn themselves when they spill heated foods CONTACT BURNS Children’s Burn Clinic team also treats many contact burns in cases from children touching: Irons (both clothing and curling) Stove tops and oven doors Treadmill belts Glass panes in front of fireplaces Space heaters Hair extensions TIPS FOR BURN PREVENTION In your home: Set your water heater at 120 degrees Fahrenheit or lower if you are able to do so. Only use cold water vaporizers. When cooking or in the kitchen: Make sure children are not within reach when you remove food from the stove, oven or microwave. Turn pot handles in, away from the edge of the stove. Avoid setting hot foods or liquids near the edge of a counter. Avoid letting school-aged children boil water, either on the stove or in the microwave, when preparing meals. Keep hot fluids, such as coffee mugs and instant soups, out of children’s reach. Make sure you have a fire extinguisher nearby. In the bathroom: Test bath water to make sure it isn’t too hot. Stay with your children while they are bathing. WHAT TO DO IF YOUR CHILD SUFFERS A BURN Remove the burning source. Get your child to safety. Call 911 if your child has suffered a flame burn. Run cool water over the burn if it is external. Don’t put anything, such as ointments or creams, on the burn – simply cover it with a clean, dry towel or cloth. Take your child to his or her pediatrician or an Emergency Department to evaluate the burn and for directions on how to treat it. Contact Children’s Burn Clinic by calling 202-884-2162. Safe Kids Worldwide, founded by Martin R. Eichelberger, MD, Director of Children’s Trauma and Burn Services, is a global network of organizations whose mission is to prevent accidental childhood injury. Lisa Ring, MSN, CPNP-AC, PC, is the Burn Nurse Practitioner for Children’s Burn Clinic.